Former Board Doesn't Owe Jess Parrish

July 22, 1986|By COMPILED FROM STAFF REPORTS

TITUSVILLE — The former governing board of Jess Parrish Memorial Hospital cannot be forced to repay $20,000 in legal fees it authorized after losing control of the hospital's assets, a circuit judge has ruled.

In his ruling Friday Circuit Judge Gilbert Goshorn refused to find the hospital's private board in contempt for paying a $20,000 retainer fee to a Daytona Beach law firm Jan. 30 -- nine days after he ordered the hospital be returned to the North Brevard County Hospital District.

The suit between the private and public board did not name the private board members individually so ''contempt is not the appropriate procedure to secure the recovery of monies,'' the ruling said.

The hospital district, which regained control of the hospital and its assets in March, must file a separate action against the members to reclaim the money, attorneys said.